Biodiversity of Guatemala

Wade Davis discusses the importance of cultures and the uniqueness of cultures around the world as well as the loss of said cultures and biodiversity. I think that it is interesting to look at the loss in languages as a loss of the diversity. I agree with the view that these two are connected. If we look at the loss in language and culture as a loss in diversity for humans, then overall we have experienced so much more loss compared to looking at loss in diversity as just species of animals. Humans have experienced immense cultural loss even though our population has only increased.

Guatemala has experienced biodiversity loss because of terrestrial degradation. There are some 230 plant species and 635 vertebrate species that are vulnerable or threatened by extinction in Guatemala. One of the main causes of this risk to these species is because of things like deforestation and increased sediment withing aquatic ecosystems. There has also been overexploitation of the species within these ecosystems. It is important to consider that Guatemala is one of the 36 biodiversity hotspots in the world and is considered to be a critical ecosystem. I think that the conservation of Guatemala’s ecosystems is very important to protects is biodiversity.

https://dicf.unepgrid.ch/guatemala/biodiversity